Pilot light burner arrangement

ABSTRACT

A pilot light burner arrangement wherein the pilot light burner is amenable to being removed from the appliance it serves while still connected to the source of gas fuel. The pilot light can thus be lit while it is outside of the appliance and then while lit, replaced within the appliance to enable the automatic lighting of the main burner. The arrangement eliminates the difficulty of lighting the pilot light burner while it is within the appliance.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,709,653

Figliuzzi 1 Jan. 9, 1973 s41 PILOT LIGHT BURNER 3,200,808 8/1965 Swift ..l26/37B ARRANGEMENT 2,260,167 10/1941 Cope ..431/279 [76] Inventor: Vincent D. Figliuzzi, 1101 North Central Avenue, Chicago, 111. 60651 jg'j f-g f gjfgff' ijgfgi3,322?

[22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1970 21 Appl. No.2 65,607 [57] ABSTRACT A pilot light burner arrangement wherein the pilot light burner is amenable to being removed from the [2%] "53314233 I appliance it serves while still connected to the Source g of gas fuel. The pilot light can thus be lit while it is l 1 0 l outside of the appliance and then while lit, replaced within the appliance to enable the automatic lighting [56] References C'ted of the main burner. The arrangement eliminates the UNITED STATES PATENTS difficulty Of lighting the pilot light burner while it iS within the appliance. 513,289 l/l894 West ..43l/279 3,511,587 5/1970 Jansen et al. ..43l/l89 X 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 22 23 l2 3 il l 1 a 3 t I 17a i 1 )6 El Ct q l I r I I PATENIEDJAM 9 ms INVENTOR VINCENT D. FIGLIUZZI M a/W ATTORNEYS PILOT LIGHT BURNER ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to gas burning appliances and more particularly to arrangements for lighting the pilot light burners of the appliances.

Gas fired appliances, such as water heaters, clothes dryers, space heaters, and the like, use pilot lights for automatic operation and for safety purposes. The flame of the pilot light acts to ignite gas that could be escaping in the case of a slow leak, which otherwise would build up and cause an explosion at its first contact with a spark of some kind. A pilot light is also used, of course, for automatically lighting the main burner of the gas appliance under the control of a thermostat, or other control switch.

In present gas burning appliances, the pilot light is accessible only by removing a plate or opening a door. Even then, it is necessary to reach within the gas burning appliance to an extent wherein it is not convenient to relight the pilot light in the case where the light has been extinguished for one reason or the other. In fact, undoubtedly, everybody who has attempted to light a pilot light has been frustrated and aggravated by the seemingly inappropriate positioning of the pilot light burner for relighting purposes. One reason for the inaccessability of the pilot light burner is that the pilot light burner must be positioned close to the main burner which should be centrally located within the housing of the gas burning appliance. Thus, the pilot light burner is inherently positioned in an inaccessible location.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide new and unique pilot light burner arrangements for gas burning appliances.

A related object of this invention is to provide pilot light arrangements wherein the pilot light burner can be removed from the housing of the appliance while still connected to the source of fuel and replaced to its normal position adjacent to the main burner of the appliance while lit.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a pilot light burner wherein the pilot light burner is attached to the pilot light gas line through a telescoping interconnecting gas tubing. Another embodiment of this invention provides a pilot light burner wherein the interconnection between the burner and the pilot light gas main is through a coiled extensible tubing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pilot light burner rotatably mounted to the pilot light fuel line so that the pilot light may be rotatedfrom its normal operating position juxtaposed to the main burner to a point outside of the housing of the appliance.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the pilot light arrangement comprises a pilot light burner normally mounted juxtaposed to the main burner so that the pilot light flame ignites the main burner when gas flows from the main burner. The interconnecting gas line pipe or tubing connecting the pilot light burner and the main fuel source comprises means for removing the pilot light burner from the housing of the appliance while still interconnecting it to the gas source. The pilot light can thus be lit while it is external to the housing and returned to its normal position adjacent to the main burner.

The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention with the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by making reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 pictorially shows a gas burning appliance and more particularly a hot water heater having a doorcovered access opening to the burner;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the gas burner of FIG. 1 showing the location of the main burner in relationship to the pilot burner and the telescoping tube connection of the pilot burner to the pilot light fuel line;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through the water heater at line 33 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment showing coiled tubing used in interconnecting the pilot burner to the burner line;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial and partial sectional view of the access opening cover arrangement of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a pivoting pilot light arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing details of the pivoting pilot light arrangement; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional top view of the pivoting pilot light arrangement of FIG. 6.

Where possible, simple terms are used and specific items are described hereinafter to facilitate an understanding of the invention; however, it should be understood that the use of such terms and reference to such items are not to act in any manner as a disclaimer of the full range of equivalents that is normally given by established principles of patent law. To illustrate, the patent drawings show the gas burning appliance as a water heater. It should be understood, of course, that other gas burning appliances could be readily substituted for the water heater, as shown in the drawings and described hereinafter.

FIG. 1 shows a generally conventional water heater 1 1 comprising an outer housing 12, having a cold water source in the form of pipe 13 and a hot water pipe 14 leading therefrom. A tank (not shown) holds the hot water for heating by a main burner 16. An access door 17 located at the bottom of housing 12, covenaccess opening 17a, which provides access to main burner 16 and to the pilot light burner 18. The hot water heater rests on a base 19.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, the pilot light burner is relatively inaccessible for lighting through the access because the pilot light burner is curved to assure that flame 21 at its end 22 is positioned to ignite the main burner when gas flows through the orifices, such as orifice 23 of the main burner 16.

Thus, in the presently available gas appliance, to light the pilot light burner, it is necessary to carry a lighted match through the access opening and around the bent pilot light burner pipe to the orifice end 22 of the pilot light burner. The lighted match must be held adjacent the end 22 while pressing a safety button that enables fuel to flow through the pilot light burner to light the flame 21 at the end of the pilot light burner.

A gas source is provided in the form of a pilot light gas line 24 which is tapped off the main gas line (not shown). The tapped gas line is usually valved for better control of the pilot light so that the pilot light may be extinguished separately from the main gas source. Also,

the tapped gas line generally incorporates a thermal arrangement wherein the gas is prevented from flowing through the pilot light burner until the end of the pilot light reaches a sufficiently high temperature. This assures that gas does not flow through the pilot light tubing or line while there is no pilot light flame. This arrangement is well known to those skilled in the art, and accordingly is not illustrated in the drawing.

Means are provided for enabling withdrawing the pilot light burner 18 from within the housing to its lighting position shown in the dashed lines. A handle 26 may be provided for better enabling the movement of the pilotlight burner to the position exterior to the housing of the gas appliance.

The means for enabling the pilot light burner to still be connected to the source of gas in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is the telescoping pilot light gas line 24 connecting the hooked or shaped burner 18 to the fuel source. As shown, line 24 includes portion 27 of the burner surrounding portion 28 of the line. A bushing 29 is provided at the end of portion 27 of the burner to enable the movement of the burner around the line without allowing the gas to escape from the telescoping arrangement.

FIG. 3 shows the main burner having neck 31 for interconnecting it with main gas line. The access opening 17a is shown with the door 17 in the open position. The burner 18 and handle 26 are shown in their normal location wherein portion 28 of line 24 is inserted with its maximum length within portion 27 of the pilot light burner 18.

In the arrangement described and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to light the pilot light, one first opens the access door 17 and pulls out the pilot light burner 18 by holding handle 26 and inserting a pulling force thereon. A lighted match is applied to the end of the pilot light when gas is enabled to pass through the pilot light gas line and into the pilot light burner. The match is held at the end of the burner until the temperature rises sufficiently to allow the thermal safety to enable the gas to flow therethrough and the pilot light to light. The pilot light is then pushed back into its normal position so that the flame is contiguous to the main burner 16. The access door 17 is then closed to close off access opening 17a.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and illustrates the use of the expandable coiled tubing 32 for connecting the pilot light burner 18 to the gas source 24. Coupling means 33 are provided for interconnecting the coiled tubing to the regular tubing 24.

A further unique feature of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is the unique access door 34 which is interconnected with the burner 18 so that when handle 36 is pulled, the pilot light which is clamped to the access opening door 34 by clamp 37 is forced out of the housing 12 to facilitate the lighting of the pilot light burner. The handle 36 is then pushed until the access door is in its closed position and the pilot burner is then in its normal position contiguous to the main burner 16. The access doorway 34 is shown integral to a cylindrical hood 38 which contains the coil tubing 32 therein.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 comprises a pilot light burner that can be rotated so that the flame or orifice end of the pilot light burner is exterior to the housing. More particularly, as is shown in FIG. 6, the burner 16 has a neck 31 attaching the burner to the main gas source. schematically, there is shown a tapped line 24 also going to the main gas source. The pilot light burner 18 is a portion of a rotatable valve 39 so that it has a position A, wherein flame is contiguous to the main burner and a position B, wherein the orifice or flame end of the burner is exterior to the housing 12 of the appliance 1 1.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, the valve 39 has an exterior portion 41 that is integral to the burner 18, and an interior portion 42 which is integral to the gas line to which the tap line 24 is connected by an orifice 43 coaxial with tap line 24 and a second orifice 44 normal to orifice 43. An interior orifice or channel 46 extends along an arc peripheral to the interior portion 42 of valve 39. Means such as washer 47 are provided for locking the interior portion 42 of the valve into the exterior portion 41. As the interior valve portion 42 rotates within the exterior portion 41, the orifice 46 maintains a connection between orifice 48 within the main burner, and orifice 43 leading to the gas source to enable the pilot light to be lit when the pilot light burner is rotated to position B and still be lit when the pilot light is swung back into its normal position A contiguous to the main burner enabling the lighting of the main burner when gas flows therethrough.

Thus, each of the embodiments shown facilitates lighting the pilot light by making it possible to light the pilot light external to the main housing and then causing the pilot light burner to be positioned in its normal location with the flame contiguous to the main burner.

While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a gas burning appliance, a pilot light arrangement wherein said gas appliance has an external housmg,

main burner means for providing the gas heat when.

the appliance is operated,

said main burner means being coupled to said source of gas through a stationary pipe,

pilot light burner means,

said pilot burner means normally positioned in juxtapostion to said main burner means and normally having gas supplied from a source of gas flowing therethrough for providing a pilot light flame contiguous to said main burner means,

access means for providing access through said housing to said pilot light burner means, 7

enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing while maintaining an attachment between said pilot light burner and said source of gas, whereby said pilot light burner can be lit external to said housing of said appliance and repositioned so that the flame of the pilot light is contiguous to the main burner, and wherein said enabling means for enabling removal of said pilot light burner from said housing comprises: telescoping tap line means connecting said pilot light burner means to the source of gas.

2. The gas burning appliance of claim 1 wherein handle means are provided integral to said pilot light burner for facilitating the removal of said pilot light burner from said external housing.

3. The gas burning appliance of claim 1 wherein said enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner means from said main housing comprises: pivot valve means, said pivot valve means having a movable portion and a fixed portion,

said pilot light burner means being attached to said movable portion of said pivot valve means,

said tap line which connects to said gas source being connected to said fixed portion of said pivot valve means,

said pivot valve means further comprising orifice means in said fixed portion connected to said gas source,

channel means between said stationary portion and said movable portion of said rotatable valve connected to orifice means in said fixed portion,

said orifice means in said movable portion connected to said pilot light burner, and

said channel means interconnecting the orifice means of said fixed portion to the orifice means of said movable portion of said valve to provide interconnection between the gas source and the pilot light burner even when said movable portion of said valve is rotated.

4. in a gas burning appliance, a pilot light arrangement wherein said gas appliance has an external housmg,

main burner means for providing the gas heat when the appliance is operated,

pilot burner means for providing a pilot light flame contiguous to said main burner means,

access means for providing access through said housing to said pilot light burner means,

enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing while maintaining an attachment between said pilot light burner means and a source of gas,

whereby said pilot light can be lit external to said housing of said appliance and repositioned so that the flame of the pilot light is contiguous to the main burner means, and

said enabling means comprising a coiled path line connecting said source of gas into said pilot light burner means, said coiled path line being amenable to stretching and returning to the unstretched state.

5. In a gas burning appliance, a pilot light arrangement wherein said gas appliance has an external houss,

main burner means for providing the gas heat when the appliance is operated,

pilot light burner means for providing a pilot light flame contiguous to said main burner means,

- access means for providing access through said housing to said pilot light burner means said access means comprising an access opening through said housing covered by an access opening plate,

enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing while maintaining an attachment between said pilot light burner means and a source of gas, whereby said pilot light burner means can be lit external to said housing of said appliance and reposition so that the flame of the pilot light is contiguous to the main burner, and

means for coupling said access opening means to said enabling means whereby when said plate is removed from said access opening said pilot light burner is also removed from said external housing.

6. The gas burning appliance of claim 5 wherein said enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing comprises: a coiled tap line amenable to stretching and returning to an unstretched state.

7. The gas burning appliance of claim 6 wherein a cylindrical hood is attached to said access opening plate and contains the coiled tap line therein. 

1. In a gas burning appliance, a pilot light arrangement wherein said gas appliance has an external housing, main burner means for providing the gas heat when the appliance is operated, said main burner means being coupled to said source of gas through a stationary pipe, pilot light burner means, said pilot burner means normally positioned in juxtapostion to said main burner means and normally having gas supplied from a source of gas flowing therethrough for providing a pilot light flame contiguous to said main burner means, access means for providing access through said housing to said pilot light burner means, enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing while maintaining an attachment between said pilot light burner and said source of gas, whereby said pilot light burner can be lit external to said housing of said appliance and repositioned so that the flame of the pilot light is contiguous to the main burner, and wherein said enabling means for enabling removal of said pilot light burner from said housing comprises: telescoping tap line means connecting said pilot light burner means to the source of gas.
 2. The gas burning appliance of claim 1 wherein handle means are provided integral to said pilot light burner for facilitating the removal of said pilot light burner from said external housing.
 3. The gas burning appliance of claim 1 wherein said enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner means from said main housing comprises: pivot valve means, said pivot valve means having a movable portion and a fixed portion, said pilot light burner means being attached to said movable portion of said pivot valve means, said tap line which connects to said gas source being connected to said fixed portion of said pivot valve means, said pivot valve means further comprising orifice means in said fixed portion connected to said gas source, channel means between said stationary portion and said movable portion of said rotatable valve connected to orifice means in said fixed portion, said orifice means in said movable portion connected to said pilot light burner, and said channel means interconnecting the orifice means of said fixed portion to the orifice means of said movable portion of said valve to provide interconnection between the gas source and the pilot light burner even when said movable portion of said valve is rotated.
 4. In a gas burning appliance, a pilot light arrangement wherein said gas appliance has an external housing, main burner means for providing the gas heat when the appliance is operated, pilot burner means for providing a pilot light flame contiguous to said main burner means, access means for providing access through said housing to said pilot light burner means, enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing whilE maintaining an attachment between said pilot light burner means and a source of gas, whereby said pilot light can be lit external to said housing of said appliance and repositioned so that the flame of the pilot light is contiguous to the main burner means, and said enabling means comprising a coiled path line connecting said source of gas into said pilot light burner means, said coiled path line being amenable to stretching and returning to the unstretched state.
 5. In a gas burning appliance, a pilot light arrangement wherein said gas appliance has an external housing, main burner means for providing the gas heat when the appliance is operated, pilot light burner means for providing a pilot light flame contiguous to said main burner means, access means for providing access through said housing to said pilot light burner means said access means comprising an access opening through said housing covered by an access opening plate, enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing while maintaining an attachment between said pilot light burner means and a source of gas, whereby said pilot light burner means can be lit external to said housing of said appliance and reposition so that the flame of the pilot light is contiguous to the main burner, and means for coupling said access opening means to said enabling means whereby when said plate is removed from said access opening said pilot light burner is also removed from said external housing.
 6. The gas burning appliance of claim 5 wherein said enabling means for enabling the removal of said pilot light burner from said main housing comprises: a coiled tap line amenable to stretching and returning to an unstretched state.
 7. The gas burning appliance of claim 6 wherein a cylindrical hood is attached to said access opening plate and contains the coiled tap line therein. 